Engineering intelligent PLGA nanoparticles for site-specific delivery

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One fundamental quest in pharmaceutical research is developing methods of drug delivery that can selectively target certain cells, while limiting exposure of surrounding healthy cells to the drug to avoid collateral damage. Advancements in nanoparticles (NPs) are rapidly progressing and offer exciting promise for drug delivery. Polymeric NPs, the delivery system I primarily focus upon, are versatile platforms for drug delivery as they are of appropriate size to be taken up by cells, have a large surface area that can be physically or chemically modified, and an excellent record of safety compared to other drug delivery systems. My research will bioengineer NPs by modifying their surface, then investigate how these modifications affect their targeting efficiency. Specifically, my objectives are to: 1) explore approaches to engineer a series of modified NPs that are able to target specific cells, 2) select candidates suitable for targeted drug delivery based on their behaviour, 3) test these candidates for efficiency and toxicity in cell cultures and in an animal (mouse) model, and 4) map tissue distribution in the body. This basic research program will engineer an efficient targeted delivery system, develop an understanding of the detailed relationship between NP structure and activity, and address key questions regarding the fundamental requirements of NP structure and chemistry to selectively target specific markers on cells/tissues. Students participating in this research will gain expertise and skills that will serve them well in future employment in academia, the pharmaceutical industry, or biotechnology laboratories. In the long term, this work will provide the basis for and eventually lead to the treatment of innate and acquired diseases in animals and humans.